Gwinnett joins group to make communities more welcoming

Gwinnett County has joined the Welcoming Network, an interna

tional association of more than 300 local governments and nonprofits working to build more inclusive communities.

The group is run by Welcoming America, a nonprofit that promotes inclusion toward immigrants and others. It helps members increase equity in areas such as language access, health care and economic development, according to a county news release.

Gwinnett County is the second-largest county in Georgia, and the most diverse.

“In Gwinnett, we recognize that advancing inclusion and belonging for people of all races, national origins and ethnicities strengthens our purpose,” commission Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson said in the release. “Foreign-born residents are a vital part of our community and bring fresh perspectives and new ideas, start businesses and contribute to the vibrancy we all value.”

JOHN SPINK/AJC 2017 The 1996 Olympics in Atlanta brought many international immigrants to Gwinnett County and much of metro Atlanta. Gwinnett is Georgia’s most diverse county.